S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 1
Department of Physics
University of Arizona
Theoretical particle physics
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 4
• Fundamental interactions – Gravity– Electromagnetic force– Weak interaction burning of the sun … – Strong interaction holds proton and neutron …
• Building blocks of matter -- elementary particles
smaller distance : higher energy
Particles and Forces
forces
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 5
Standard Model of Particle Physics-
Strong interactions
Origin of mass
Neutrinos
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 5
Standard Model of Particle Physics-
Strong interactions
Origin of mass
Neutrinos
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 5
Standard Model of Particle Physics-
Strong interactions
Origin of mass
Unification+gravity
Neutrinos
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 5
Standard Model of Particle Physics-
Strong interactions
Origin of mass
Unification+gravity
Neutrinos
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 7
-
LEP
e-e+
Tevatron (now)
p
LC
We live in an exciting era when rich data is / will become available
LHC (2009)
p p
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 9
Group Members-
• Faculty:
KeithDienes
InaSarcevic
ShufangSu
DougToussaint
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 10
Group Members-
• Postdocs Current: Alexei Bazavov (2007) FSU → UA → Brookhaven national labBrooks Thomas (2007) Michigan → UA → University of HawaiiGouranga Nayak (2008)
Incoming: Vikram Rentala (2010) UC Berkeley → UA Jongjeong Kim (2010) Seoul University → UA
Previous: Rikard Enberg (2007-2008) Berkeley → UA → Uppsala University, SwedenDru Renner (2004-2007) MIT → UA → DESYHock-Seng Goh (2004-2007) Maryland → UA → BerkeleySabine Hossenfelder (2003-2005) Germany → UA → Santa BarbaraIrina Mocioiu (2003-2005) Stony Brook → UA → Penn State University
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 11
Students (Yes!)
Ethan DolleSu
Arif Erkoca
Sarcevic
Vaibhav WasnikDienes
Xinyu MiaoSu
Menika SharmaDienes
Walter FreemanToussaint
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 11
Students (Yes!)
Ethan DolleSu
Arif Erkoca
Sarcevic
Vaibhav WasnikDienes
Xinyu MiaoSu
Menika SharmaDienes
Walter FreemanToussaint
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 11
Students (Yes!)
Ethan DolleSu
Arif Erkoca
Sarcevic
Vaibhav WasnikDienes
Xinyu MiaoSu
Menika SharmaDienes
Walter FreemanToussaint
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 11
Students (Yes!)
Ethan DolleSu
Arif Erkoca
Sarcevic
Vaibhav WasnikDienes
Xinyu MiaoSu
Menika SharmaDienes
Walter FreemanToussaint
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 11
Students (Yes!)
Ethan DolleSu
Arif Erkoca
Sarcevic
Vaibhav WasnikDienes
Xinyu MiaoSu
Menika SharmaDienes
Walter FreemanToussaint
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 12
Related groups-
• Nuclear physics
• Heavy Ion
• Experimental high energy
Barrett, Fleming, van Kolck
Rutherfoord, Shupe, Johns, Cheu, Varnes
Rafelski, Thews
• Theoretical astrophysics group Fang, Melia
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 14
Energy10-3 GeV 103 GeV
q lg h
…
theo
ryex
p
Toussaint
Su
Dienes
1019 GeV
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 14
Energy10-3 GeV 103 GeV
q lg h
…
theo
ryex
p
Toussaint
Su
Dienes
1019 GeV
Sarcevic
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 15
Lattice Gauge Theory at U. of A-
D. Toussaint (faculty), Alexei Bazavov (postdoc)
Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is theory of strong interactions.
We know the Lagrangian (equation of motion) but can’t solve problems (nonlinear, strongly coupled, relativistic, ...)
Use supercomputers (and some brains) to do the Feynman path integral numerically.
Lattice Gauge Theory
at U. of A.Doug Toussaint (faculty), Dru Renner (postdoc)
Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is theory of strong interactions.
We know the Lagrangian (equations of motion), but can’t solve prob-
lems (nonlinear, strongly coupled, relativistic, . . . )
Use supercomputers (and some brains) to do the Feynman path integral
numerically.
Show two simple examples on next two slides.
But also complement current experiments:
June 2005 (both):
Lattice gauge theory: FD+ = 201 ± 17 MeV
Experiment (CLEO-c: FD+ = 223 ± 17 MeV.
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 16
Lattice Gauge Theory at U. of A-
QCD spectrum calculations predict particle mass ratios from first principles
and are reasonably close to right and are getting better
Calculated spectrum results compared to real world
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 17
Electroweak Physics at U. of A-
• Standard Model: a successful model • Many open questions requires new physics beyond the SM
S. Su (faculty), Brooks Thomas (postdoc), students
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 17
Electroweak Physics at U. of A-
• Standard Model: a successful model • Many open questions requires new physics beyond the SM
S. Su (faculty), Brooks Thomas (postdoc), students
We work on physics beyond the SM that could potentially be discovered in the current and upcoming experiments.
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 18
Electroweak Physics at U. of A-
Theory Experiments
Particle physics
Astrophysics
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 18
Electroweak Physics at U. of A-
Theory Experiments
Particle physics
Astrophysics
Dark matter, dark energyCMB, BBN Baryongenesis…
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 20
String Phenomenology at U. of A-K. Dienes (faculty) Brooks Thomas (Postdoc), students
String Phenomenology
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 20
String Phenomenology at U. of A-K. Dienes (faculty) Brooks Thomas (Postdoc), students
String Phenomenology
• the “interplay” or “meeting-ground” between Planck-scale physics and GeV-scale physics• the “art” of using the new insights from string theory in order to understand, explain, and predict what physics at next energy scale is going look like
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 20
String Phenomenology at U. of A-K. Dienes (faculty) Brooks Thomas (Postdoc), students
String Phenomenology
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 20
String Phenomenology at U. of A-K. Dienes (faculty) Brooks Thomas (Postdoc), students
String Phenomenology
Standard Model • choice of gauge group• number of generations• masses• mixings, etc …
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 20
String Phenomenology at U. of A-K. Dienes (faculty) Brooks Thomas (Postdoc), students
String Phenomenology
Standard Model • choice of gauge group• number of generations• masses• mixings, etc …
Extensions to SM: • SUSY• GUT’s• hidden sectors• technicolor…
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 20
String Phenomenology at U. of A-K. Dienes (faculty) Brooks Thomas (Postdoc), students
String Phenomenology
Standard Model • choice of gauge group• number of generations• masses• mixings, etc …
Formal Issues: • string vacuum selection• non-pert. dynamics• string duality• new mathematical structure …
Extensions to SM: • SUSY• GUT’s• hidden sectors• technicolor…
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 20
String Phenomenology at U. of A-K. Dienes (faculty) Brooks Thomas (Postdoc), students
String Phenomenology
Standard Model • choice of gauge group• number of generations• masses• mixings, etc …
Formal Issues: • string vacuum selection• non-pert. dynamics• string duality• new mathematical structure …
String Cosmology: • role of dilaton• effects of light d.o.f.’s• extra dimensions• CC problem …
Extensions to SM: • SUSY• GUT’s• hidden sectors• technicolor…
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 21
Keith is now the Program Director for Theoretical High-Energy Physics and Cosmology at the National Science Foundation in Washington DC. He "oversees all NSF-funded research in these areas across the United States". $$$$ = very important.
๏ This is temporary, and he will be returning to Arizona "soon".๏ He can always be reached by email, however.๏ He still continues his research activity ...
Message from Keith:
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 22
Neutrino Physics at U. of A-
Ina Sarcevic (faculty), Gouranga Nayak (postdoc), students
Low energy (supernovae neutrinos)
Ultrahigh energy (Cosmic neutrinos)
• Probing Dark Matter with Neutrinos• Black Hole Production at the LHC• Astrophysical Neutrinos from Charm
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 24
Research Activities for Students-• Seminars, colloquiua and Visitors
• Group meetings− Journal club − brown bag lunch (with nuclear theory group)− discussion group on dark energy and early universe (with theoretical astrophysics group and astronomy dept.)
• Summer schools and conferences− TASI, SLAC summer school, Europe ones,…− conferences/workshops,…− international conferences: SUSY03, LATTICE06, “Rethinking Gravity”, string vacuum project, …
S. Su Prospective Grads 2010 24
Research Activities for Students-• Seminars, colloquiua and Visitors
• Group meetings− Journal club − brown bag lunch (with nuclear theory group)− discussion group on dark energy and early universe (with theoretical astrophysics group and astronomy dept.)
• Summer schools and conferences− TASI, SLAC summer school, Europe ones,…− conferences/workshops,…− international conferences: SUSY03, LATTICE06, “Rethinking Gravity”, string vacuum project, …
We will keep you (very) busy !